I will both lay me down in peace, and sleep: for thou, LORD, only makest me dwell in safety.
Psalm 4 closes with quiet confidence in the LORD. David has called upon God in distress, rebuked the sons of men for turning his glory into shame, exhorted them to stand in awe and sin not, commanded inward communion upon the bed, and urged them to offer the sacrifices of righteousness and put their trust in the LORD (vv.1-5). Many were asking, “Who will shew us any good?” but David had found greater gladness in the light of God’s countenance than others found in the increase of corn and wine (vv.6-7). Verse 8 is the final fruit of that faith. The man who trusts the LORD can lie down in peace and sleep, because the LORD alone makes him dwell in safety.
“I will.” This is the language of resolved faith. David does not wait for all enemies to vanish, all troubles to cease, or all circumstances to become comfortable before resting. He determines to lie down because his confidence is in God. Fear says, I cannot sleep until I know what men will do. Faith says, I will both lay me down in peace and sleep, for the LORD keeps me. This is not carelessness, but trust. David has examined his heart, refused sinful reaction, and put his trust in the LORD (vv.4-5). Therefore, he may commit himself to God and rest.
“Both lay me down.” Lying down is a vulnerable act. A man at rest is not watching, fighting, planning, or defending himself. He stops. He yields his body to sleep and his circumstances to God. Many can stand, work, speak, or strive, but cannot quietly lie down because inward fears rule them. David could lay himself down because his safety did not rest in his own wakefulness. He knew the LORD was his shield and the lifter up of his head (Psalm 3:3). He had said in the previous psalm, “I laid me down and slept; I awaked; for the LORD sustained me” (Psalm 3:5). Psalm 4:8 speaks the same faith.
“In peace.” This peace is not the absence of all outward trouble, but inward rest in the LORD. David was not trusting peaceful circumstances; he was trusting the God of peace. The wicked may lie down with full barns, strong walls, and many guards, yet have no peace. David could lie down in peace because God had put gladness in his heart (v.7). The light of God’s countenance was better than earthly increase (vv.6-7). When the LORD is the portion of the soul, peace may be had even when the world remains unsettled.
“And sleep.” Sleep is a gift from God. Men may lie down and still be unable to sleep because fear, guilt, anger, or care keeps the heart awake. But David could sleep. He had obeyed the earlier command: “Commune with your own heart upon your bed, and be still” (v.4). The bed that could have become a place of fretting became a place of rest. The man who deals with his heart before God may leave his burdens with God. The man who refuses to sin in anger, refuses to feed fear, and refuses to trust in men may close his eyes in faith.
This is practical godliness. True religion reaches the bed, the night, the thoughts, and the inward man. It is one thing to speak bravely by day; it is another to sleep peacefully at night. The night often reveals what rules the heart. If fear rules, the bed becomes a place of torment. If anger rules, the bed becomes a place of rehearsed offenses. If unbelief rules, the bed becomes a place of anxious imagining. But if the LORD rules, the bed may become a place of peace. David’s sleep was an act of faith.
“For thou.” David gives the reason for his rest. He does not say he sleeps because enemies are weak, friends are many, walls are high, weapons are ready, or tomorrow is certain. He sleeps because of God. “Thou” is the foundation of the verse. Faith reasons from the LORD to peace, not from circumstances to peace. If the LORD is for His servant, then the servant may rest.
“LORD.” This is Jehovah, the living and faithful God. LORD in all capital letters is the King James Bible’s usual way of representing the divine name Jehovah. David’s peace rests upon Jehovah’s character. He is self-existent, unchanging, almighty, faithful, merciful, and true. Men sleep and cannot keep themselves; Jehovah neither slumbers nor sleeps (Psalm 121:4). Men change, but Jehovah does not change. Men threaten, but Jehovah reigns. Men may disturb the day, but they cannot remove the believer from the care of the LORD in the night.
“Only.” This word gives God the whole glory of David’s safety. The LORD alone makes him dwell safely. David does not divide his confidence between God and man. He does not say the LORD helps his safety while other things secure it. He says the LORD only makes him dwell in safety. Means may be used, but God is the keeper. Houses, locks, guards, armies, medicine, prudence, and friends may serve their place, but none of them can make a man dwell in safety apart from Jehovah. “Safety is of the LORD” (Proverbs 21:31).
“Makest me dwell.” David’s safety is not self-made (Psalm 127:1). The LORD makes him dwell (Ezekiel 34:25). God does not merely offer peace at a distance; He settles His servant (1 Peter 5:10). To dwell is more than to survive one moment. It speaks of settled continuance under God’s care (Psalm 23:6). The believer’s life is not an accident held together by his own strength (1 Samuel 2:9). The LORD appoints his place (Acts 17:26), numbers his days (Job 14:5), orders his steps (Proverbs 16:9), keeps his soul (1 Peter 1:5), and surrounds him with mercy (Psalm 32:10). Therefore, he may dwell, not flee in panic (Isaiah 28:16).
“In safety.” Safety is security, protection, and freedom from destructive fear (Proverbs 1:33). This does not mean the saint will never suffer, lose, or die (2 Timothy 3:12). David himself endured many troubles (Psalm 34:19). But it means the LORD holds His people so that nothing can touch them outside His will (Matthew 10:29-30), nothing can separate them from His love (Romans 8:38-39), and nothing can overthrow His purpose (Isaiah 14:27). Job was safer in trial under God’s hand (Job 1:12; 2:6) than the wicked are in prosperity (Psalm 73:12-19). Daniel was safer in the lions’ den with God (Daniel 6:22) than his accusers were outside it without God (Daniel 6:24). The believer’s safety is not measured by ease, but by the LORD’s keeping (Psalm 121:3-5).
This verse also points the heart to Jesus Christ, who perfectly trusted His Father. He slept in a ship while the storm raged and the disciples feared perishing (Mark 4:37-38). He could sleep because He knew the Father’s will and rested in divine care. Then He arose and rebuked the wind and sea, proving that the One who slept in trust was also Lord over the storm (Mark 4:39). Christ showed perfect peace under danger, and He gives peace to His people. “Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid” (John 14:27).
Psalm 4:8 therefore teaches the rest of faith. The godly man may lie down in peace and sleep, not because the world is safe, but because the LORD makes him dwell in safety. He has stood in awe, communed with his heart, been still, offered the sacrifices of righteousness, and trusted in the LORD (vv.4-5). Now he may close the day with confidence. Let enemies speak, fears rise, and circumstances remain uncertain; Jehovah alone keeps His people. The saint who trusts Him may lay his head upon the pillow in peace, for the LORD only makes him dwell in safety.
I will both lay me down in peace, and sleep: for thou, LORD, only makest me dwell in safety.
Psalm 4 closes with quiet confidence in the LORD. David has called upon God in distress, rebuked the sons of men for turning his glory into shame, exhorted them to stand in awe and sin not, commanded inward communion upon the bed, and urged them to offer the sacrifices of righteousness and put their trust in the LORD (vv.1-5). Many were asking, “Who will shew us any good?” but David had found greater gladness in the light of God’s countenance than others found in the increase of corn and wine (vv.6-7). Verse 8 is the final fruit of that faith. The man who trusts the LORD can lie down in peace and sleep, because the LORD alone makes him dwell in safety.
“I will.” This is the language of resolved faith. David does not wait for all enemies to vanish, all troubles to cease, or all circumstances to become comfortable before resting. He determines to lie down because his confidence is in God. Fear says, I cannot sleep until I know what men will do. Faith says, I will both lay me down in peace and sleep, for the LORD keeps me. This is not carelessness, but trust. David has examined his heart, refused sinful reaction, and put his trust in the LORD (vv.4-5). Therefore, he may commit himself to God and rest.
“Both lay me down.” Lying down is a vulnerable act. A man at rest is not watching, fighting, planning, or defending himself. He stops. He yields his body to sleep and his circumstances to God. Many can stand, work, speak, or strive, but cannot quietly lie down because inward fears rule them. David could lay himself down because his safety did not rest in his own wakefulness. He knew the LORD was his shield and the lifter up of his head (Psalm 3:3). He had said in the previous psalm, “I laid me down and slept; I awaked; for the LORD sustained me” (Psalm 3:5). Psalm 4:8 speaks the same faith.
“In peace.” This peace is not the absence of all outward trouble, but inward rest in the LORD. David was not trusting peaceful circumstances; he was trusting the God of peace. The wicked may lie down with full barns, strong walls, and many guards, yet have no peace. David could lie down in peace because God had put gladness in his heart (v.7). The light of God’s countenance was better than earthly increase (vv.6-7). When the LORD is the portion of the soul, peace may be had even when the world remains unsettled.
“And sleep.” Sleep is a gift from God. Men may lie down and still be unable to sleep because fear, guilt, anger, or care keeps the heart awake. But David could sleep. He had obeyed the earlier command: “Commune with your own heart upon your bed, and be still” (v.4). The bed that could have become a place of fretting became a place of rest. The man who deals with his heart before God may leave his burdens with God. The man who refuses to sin in anger, refuses to feed fear, and refuses to trust in men may close his eyes in faith.
This is practical godliness. True religion reaches the bed, the night, the thoughts, and the inward man. It is one thing to speak bravely by day; it is another to sleep peacefully at night. The night often reveals what rules the heart. If fear rules, the bed becomes a place of torment. If anger rules, the bed becomes a place of rehearsed offenses. If unbelief rules, the bed becomes a place of anxious imagining. But if the LORD rules, the bed may become a place of peace. David’s sleep was an act of faith.
“For thou.” David gives the reason for his rest. He does not say he sleeps because enemies are weak, friends are many, walls are high, weapons are ready, or tomorrow is certain. He sleeps because of God. “Thou” is the foundation of the verse. Faith reasons from the LORD to peace, not from circumstances to peace. If the LORD is for His servant, then the servant may rest.
“LORD.” This is Jehovah, the living and faithful God. LORD in all capital letters is the King James Bible’s usual way of representing the divine name Jehovah. David’s peace rests upon Jehovah’s character. He is self-existent, unchanging, almighty, faithful, merciful, and true. Men sleep and cannot keep themselves; Jehovah neither slumbers nor sleeps (Psalm 121:4). Men change, but Jehovah does not change. Men threaten, but Jehovah reigns. Men may disturb the day, but they cannot remove the believer from the care of the LORD in the night.
“Only.” This word gives God the whole glory of David’s safety. The LORD alone makes him dwell safely. David does not divide his confidence between God and man. He does not say the LORD helps his safety while other things secure it. He says the LORD only makes him dwell in safety. Means may be used, but God is the keeper. Houses, locks, guards, armies, medicine, prudence, and friends may serve their place, but none of them can make a man dwell in safety apart from Jehovah. “Safety is of the LORD” (Proverbs 21:31).
“Makest me dwell.” David’s safety is not self-made (Psalm 127:1). The LORD makes him dwell (Ezekiel 34:25). God does not merely offer peace at a distance; He settles His servant (1 Peter 5:10). To dwell is more than to survive one moment. It speaks of settled continuance under God’s care (Psalm 23:6). The believer’s life is not an accident held together by his own strength (1 Samuel 2:9). The LORD appoints his place (Acts 17:26), numbers his days (Job 14:5), orders his steps (Proverbs 16:9), keeps his soul (1 Peter 1:5), and surrounds him with mercy (Psalm 32:10). Therefore, he may dwell, not flee in panic (Isaiah 28:16).
“In safety.” Safety is security, protection, and freedom from destructive fear (Proverbs 1:33). This does not mean the saint will never suffer, lose, or die (2 Timothy 3:12). David himself endured many troubles (Psalm 34:19). But it means the LORD holds His people so that nothing can touch them outside His will (Matthew 10:29-30), nothing can separate them from His love (Romans 8:38-39), and nothing can overthrow His purpose (Isaiah 14:27). Job was safer in trial under God’s hand (Job 1:12; 2:6) than the wicked are in prosperity (Psalm 73:12-19). Daniel was safer in the lions’ den with God (Daniel 6:22) than his accusers were outside it without God (Daniel 6:24). The believer’s safety is not measured by ease, but by the LORD’s keeping (Psalm 121:3-5).
This verse also points the heart to Jesus Christ, who perfectly trusted His Father. He slept in a ship while the storm raged and the disciples feared perishing (Mark 4:37-38). He could sleep because He knew the Father’s will and rested in divine care. Then He arose and rebuked the wind and sea, proving that the One who slept in trust was also Lord over the storm (Mark 4:39). Christ showed perfect peace under danger, and He gives peace to His people. “Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid” (John 14:27).
Psalm 4:8 therefore teaches the rest of faith. The godly man may lie down in peace and sleep, not because the world is safe, but because the LORD makes him dwell in safety. He has stood in awe, communed with his heart, been still, offered the sacrifices of righteousness, and trusted in the LORD (vv.4-5). Now he may close the day with confidence. Let enemies speak, fears rise, and circumstances remain uncertain; Jehovah alone keeps His people. The saint who trusts Him may lay his head upon the pillow in peace, for the LORD only makes him dwell in safety.